ISLAMABAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi is expected to visit Islamabad in the coming days to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan’s top diplomat in Baghdad told a Middle Eastern publication on Saturday.
Last month, Iraq’s foreign minister Dr. Fuad Hussein visited the South Asian state and held a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
During their deliberations, the two officials agreed to convene an “early” meeting of the Pakistan-Iraq Joint Ministerial Commission.
“Al-Kadhimi’s visit to Pakistan in the next few days aims to strengthen bilateral relations,” Pakistan’s Ambassador in Baghdad Ahmed Amjad Ali said during his interview with Iraq’s state-owned Al-Sabah newspaper. “He will also sign memoranda of understanding in the fields of culture and trade between the two countries.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special assistant on the Middle East Tahir Ashrafi told Arab News on Sunday the Iraqi prime minister’s visit to Islamabad was expected soon, though the two sides were still trying to work out the dates.
The Pakistani ambassador also told the Iraqi newspaper that the two countries had enjoyed longstanding cooperation in various areas, including the fields of defense and security.
“Students and employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense regularly attend the army’s training courses in Pakistan,” he said. “In addition to that, many Iraqi diplomats receive diplomatic training at the Pakistan Foreign Services Academy.”
Ali said the volume of the annual bilateral trade between Iraq and Pakistan was nearly $64 million, though both countries wanted to further consolidate their trade ties.
“Iraq and Pakistan are currently in the process of discussing mutual cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health and security,” he continued. “Pakistan can also help with the construction of destroyed buildings and power infrastructure in Iraq.”
The Pakistani envoy noted about 300,000 pilgrims from Pakistan annually traveled to Iraq to visit holy shrines.
During the Iraqi foreign minister’s visit to Islamabad, the two countries also discussed people-to-people contact and new ways of facilitating pilgrims from Pakistan.
According to an official Pakistani statement, Foreign Minister Qureshi requested for “further facilitation in visas and travel” for people interested in visiting Iraq.
Iraqi prime minister to visit Pakistan in ‘next few days’ – envoy to Baghdad
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Iraqi prime minister to visit Pakistan in ‘next few days’ – envoy to Baghdad
- Last month, Pakistan and Iraq agreed to convene ‘early’ meeting of joint ministerial commission after a gap of several years
- A senior Pakistani administration official says dates for the Iraqi prime minister’s visit are being worked out
Pakistan warn England’s flaky batting to expect a trial by spin
- Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out
- A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka, through to the semis with a game to spare
Pallekele: Pakistan on Monday warned England’s inconsistent batting line-up to expect a trial by spin when the teams clash in the T20 World Cup Super Eights.
Pakistan batsman Sahibzada Farhan told reporters that England struggled to 146-9 against Sri Lanka’s spinners on Sunday.
Farhan said that England can expect more of the same from Pakistan’s spinners when they meet on the same Pallekele ground in Kandy on Tuesday night.
Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out.
A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka for 95 to win by 51 runs, through to the semifinals with a game to spare.
Pakistan would then need to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match and hope other results go their way to reach the last four.
“What we saw in the Sri Lanka-England game was that the ball was gripping and England struggled against spin,” said the in-form opener Farhan on Monday.
“Sri Lanka have one or two spinners but we have five in all so we will give England a tough time on a pitch that looks good and will grip,” said Farhan.
Pakistan’s spinners have taken 26 wickets in the four matches so far. Their seamers have dismissed only seven batsmen.
History will be against Pakistan as they have never beaten England in three previous Twenty20 World Cup clashes.
“We are confident and our morale is high,” said Farhan, who scored an unbeaten 100 against Namibia in Pakistan’s final group match.
“We are focused on this match to win and progress.”
Farhan, who tops the T20 World Cup run-scoring chart with 220, said he was ready for the threat of England’s express pace bowler Jofra Archer.
“Facing Archer will not be difficult because I have faced similar bowlers in Pakistan,” said Farhan.
“So if he has plans against me, I also have plans against him.”
Pakistan are likely to bring in spinner Abrar Ahmed in place of seaming all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.
England may name an unchanged side for the fifth match in succession with Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell providing their spin options.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand are the two other teams in Pakistan and England’s Super Eights group. They face each other in Colombo on Wednesday.
The top two teams will qualify for the semifinals.
